1 APPENDIX — SUPERSTITIONS. 193
2 Good and bad omens, *= lucky and unlucky days, and
3 particular hours of the day and night for commencing a
4 journey and returning home, are carefully observed by
5 the Sikhs, and by ail other classes in the Punjab, whether
6 engaged in the most momentous enterprizes, or in the
7 common concerns of life. Prior to the field being takea
8 with an army.f a visit of ceremony being paid to a dis-
9 tant friend, or a pilgrimage being made, the Muhoorut,
10 or auspicious moment for departure, and return, must be
11 admitted to succeed to the laaded property she held for life. In 1828, the
12 boy died, aad Ruttln Koonwur, in a paroxism of grief, filed a formal
13 complaint, charging his death, through magical arts, to her nephew
14 Jdmerct Singh, producing in Court some body clothes, and on no better
15 evidence directing her Vakeel to prosecute him for murder. The case
16 was set at rest by reasoning on its absurdity, and Rctcn Koonwir
17 consoled herself by the adoption of another boy. In September 1829, a
18 Thanadar of the Thanesur Ranee, hanged a Brahmin suspected of magic.
19 The Ranee dismissed the Thanadar from his situation.
20 * To hear a partridge call on your right hand as you enter a town-
21 cranes passing from left to right— meeting a bareheaded person — a
22 jackass braying as you enter a town or village— a dog shaking his head
23 and ears on quitting home— to meet a corpse or a Brahmin— to hear a
24 female jackall howling during the night— sneezing on going out or com-
25 ing into a house or room, &c. 6tc. are bad omens. The contrary are good
26 omens. To hear a partridge call on your left— craaes passing from right
27 to left— to meet a Mehtur or Sweeper— to behold pearls in your sleep. If
28 a Moosulnian dream of seeing the moon, it is as good as an interriew icith
29 the Prophet, Sfc. If c.—Aa eminent Native Merchant came to me on business
30 from Uuiritsur, and died at Loodeeana, of the Cholera Morbus. His
31 followers very gravely told me that my remedies must be unavailing, for
32 on entering the town, many bare-headed men of the Goojur cast had
33 been met by the deceased.
34 t A gang of burglars being brought before me in 1819, admitted in
35 evidence, that two pieces of coloured muslin had been tossed over their
36 left shoulders, on hearing a jackall call on their right hand, soon after
37 quitting Kurnal, where the burglary had been perpetrated. Dessa-Sool,
38 or unlucky days — Saturday and Monday, to the east— Sunday and Friday,
39 to the west— Tuesday and Wednesday, to the north, and Thursday to
40 the south. The contrary are Siddh Jog, or lucky days.
41 2 A